In this thought-provoking conversation, Alex sits down with Spencer Klavan, associate editor of The Claremont Review of Books and author of Light of the Mind, Light of the World, to explore what we lose when we stop reading — and what it means for the soul in an era dominated by artificial intelligence. The two dive deep into the cultural and spiritual consequences of outsourcing human thought to machines, reflecting on how AI’s ability to summarize and synthesize information might be making us more efficient, but also less human. Spencer argues that reading isn’t just about gathering information — it’s about transformation. Great books, he says, aren’t instruction manuals; they are “new wings of the soul,” forming character, clarity, and wisdom that no algorithm can replicate.

The conversation weaves together topics like the decline of literacy, the rise of AI, and the erosion of classical education. Spencer explains that while technology can enhance human life, it often erodes our natural abilities — from memorization to focus — by doing too much of the work for us. He draws parallels between Plato’s warnings about writing and today’s digital dependence, noting that every time humanity invents a new tool, it risks forgetting the human act it replaces.

Alex and Spencer also explore why modern culture has lost touch with deep reading, with many preferring “life-hack books” and influencer content over classic literature. They discuss why truly great works — from Plato to Tolstoy — endure, and how their complexity invites the reader into a lifelong dialogue rather than a list of takeaways. Spencer insists that the encounter between a living soul and a great mind is irreplaceable — the very essence of being human.

Turning to his book, Light of the Mind, Light of the World, Spencer argues that science, far from disproving God, increasingly points back to the divine. Drawing on the words of physicist Werner Heisenberg, he suggests that the deeper one delves into science, the more one encounters mystery — and ultimately, faith. The two discuss how materialism has failed to explain consciousness, morality, and meaning, and how the modern “new atheism” movement has given way to a renewed spiritual hunger.

The episode concludes with Spencer offering practical advice for rebuilding intellectual and spiritual habits in a distracted age: thirty minutes of reading, thirty minutes of prayer, and thirty minutes of exercise every day. He encourages listeners to rediscover the classics — from Plato’s Apology to the Gospels — not as relics of a dead past, but as living companions that sharpen the mind and feed the soul.

Together, Alex and Spencer make a powerful case for reclaiming literacy, faith, and thought in a world that risks losing all three to the machine.

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